Dakar route 2018

Peru, Argentina and Bolivia!

These are the 3 countries that will be crossed by the competitors of the Dakar 2018 next January!

A start from Peru, reunion…five years later!!From January, 6th to 20th 2018, a start from Lima and a finish line in Cordoba crossing through La Paz and Titicaca Lake, this 40th Dakar edition will be a great adventure as various as difficult through 14 stages for the Dakar Heroes.

Three countries: Peru, Bolivia and Argentina

For its 40th edition, that will also be the 10th edition on the South American continent, the Dakar will reacquaint itself with the Pacific Ocean and especially the Peruvian dunes, which the riders and drivers will tackle after having enjoyed several days in the capital, Lima. The race will continue in Bolivia, where the rest day will take place in a supercharged atmosphere in La Paz. In terms of enthusiasm and good naturedness, the Argentinean aficionados are on a level playing field with their neighbours, in particular in Córdoba, which will host the finish of the Dakar for the first time.

Peru

Peru, the epicentre of Spanish colonial power and expansion in the 16th century, remains, in spite of the separation in 1825 with Bolivia (formerly known as Upper Peru), the third biggest country on the South American continent. The rarity of precipitation has maintained zones that are completely desertified, which the Dakar had already started to explore in 2012 and 2013. On the Dakar’s first finish in Peru, only the year’s most valiant riders and drivers experienced the pride of climbing onto the podium in Lima. The following year, the Peruvian fans witnessed a consecration when one of their own riders, Ignacio Flores, was victorious in the quad race on the first stage in Pisco. For its return to the Dakar map, the country will be boasting a larger contingent, most certainly reinforced by Nicolas Fuchs, 12th in the car race last January for his debut on the event.

Bolivia

In addition to its usual visitors, in 2014, Bolivia welcomed the Dakar’s competitors for the first time for an incursion that enabled the bikers to discover the sumptuous Salar de Uyuni salt flats, the biggest salt desert in the world. In 2015, the car crews also tasted the unique welcome that the Bolivians are capable of reserving for the rally, before the entire bivouac took up residence at Uyuni in 2016. On the 2017 edition, the local fans were rewarded for their encouragements in Tupiza by a stage victory in the quad race for one of their standard bearers, Walter Nosiglia. The stay on the Altiplano high plains, disrupted by exceptional weather conditions, witnessed a severe cull among the Dakar competitors’ ranks. In 2018, they will continue to explore the adoptive country of Simon Bolivar, the liberator of the continent.

Argentina

The Argentineans have experienced great moments of joy with riders and drivers that have represented them on the rally. The Patronelli saga gave them plenty to cheer about with five trophies won in the quad category by Marcos and Alejandro between 2010 and 2016… The country’s sky blue and white colours are also vallianlty defended in the car category by Orlando Terranova, who is a regular pretender for a podium finish and came 6th last January. Argentina has also demonstrated its versatility through the emergence of young riders such as Kevin Benavides (4th in 2016) and now Franco Caimi (8th in 2017), whilst Federico Villagra has succeeded in his conversion to the truck category by finishing 3rd in 2016 and then 4th in 2017, with his sights now on the title…

Calendar

The countdown to the Dakar is underway and the whole off-road rally family will soon be reunited!

Before they embark upon Peruvian dunes and Argentinian route, competitors in the 2018 edition will follow a tight schedule combining physical preparation, mechanical fine-tuning and logistical adjustments. The following deadlines are not to be missed: